The Judgment.
28 September, 2007
Following a nerve-shattering legal battle, Pakistan’s
Supreme Court has allowed the country’s military
ruler, General Pervez Musharraf to contest the
presidential election in uniform, which is scheduled
to be held on October 6.
"The petitions hereby are dismissed as not
maintainable" announced Justice Rana Bhagwandas, the
head of the panel of nine judges hearing a string of
petitions challenging the re-election of General
Musharraf in uniform for next five-year term.
Six of the nine-judge larger bench gave verdict in
favor of dismissing the petitions while other three
judges, including Justice Rana Bhagwandas, differed.
As soon as the verdict was announced, the lawyers
present in the courtroom shouted “shame shame”
slogans, and anti-Musharraf slogans, forcing the
judges to leave the courtroom in a hurry.
Opposition supporters threw rotten eggs and tomatoes
at the imposing marble court building in Islamabad and
chanted "Shame! Shame!" and "Go, Musharraf, go!" after
the verdict was announced.
"This is not a Supreme Court judgment. This is a
written judgment received by the judges from the
president house”, Ali Ahmed Kurd, a senior legal
expert, and senior vice president of the Supreme Court
Bar Association said.
Justice rtd Wajihuddin Ahmad, who is contesting
General Musharraf in upcoming presidential election
says “ I am disappointed. The Supreme Court’s
judgment is the sequel of its traditions . General
Musharraf is not allowed to contest the election in
uniform in line with the constitution. If the court
has allowed a government servant and a sitting army
chief to contest election, then it has to give the
same right to all the government employees and army
officers”.
“This is surprising that the court took 11 days to
decide whether these petitions are maintainable or
not. This can be decided within a day or two. Then why
did the court take 11 days to only decide about the
maintainability of the petitions. If the court had to
decide about these petitions on technical basis, then
it must have been decided on the first day. This is
unbelievable that after hearing of 11 days, the court
simply declared the petitions non-maintainable without
citing even a single reason”, he maintained.
Here are some questions
1)What is your opinion about this judgment?
2)Has the dictatorship has won once again?
3) Is this judgment another sequel of Justice Muneer’s
judgment?
4)Is the game over for anti-Musharraf forces?
5)Are their any options left for APDM to stop Musharraf
from getting re-elected by current assemblies?
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